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When most people think of Corona they think of hot weather and dusty and dry trails. At least that’s what I was thinking. The Tin Mine Trail was none of the above. The actual trail is very well maintained and marked.

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There are signs that point out the poison oak and there are information posts about the mining history of the area. The Tin Mine is all of a mile into the hike and it is right along side the trail. It is closed off to the public with metal posts of course for safety reasons.
The real fun of this hike takes place after the end of the actual trail. You can follow the creek for an additional two miles or so into the canyon. The vegetation is very dense and the canopy protects you from the sun. On the day that we ventured out here it felt more like a rain forest than the desert.

This hike is definitely only kid friendly up to where the marked trail ends. After that it becomes a hike for the more adventurous adults. For those that are extremely adventurous, you can actually make your way from this trail up to Beek’s Place on top of Blackstar Canyon Road.
Directions to Tin Mine Canyon Trail Head

Escondido Falls is a great trail to hike anytime of year. This trail is located in the Santa Monica Mountains of Malbu. The proximity to the coast provides relief from the heat of the SoCal Summer. The temperature here usually lingers in the mid to upper 60’s. The only drawback to hiking this close to the exclusive sands of Baywatch Beach would be the very limited parking. You will definitely want to arrive early.The tiny parking lot is located at Winding Way and PCH.There are no parking fees.
The trailhead is about 1/2 a mile north on Winding Way from the parking lot. Winding Way is basically a private road leading to some pretty swanky homes. The entire hike ends up being about 4.2 miles roundtrip. I would say that it is a pretty family friendly trail as long as your children are at least 6 years of age. Poison oak is abundant here. You will want to keep everyone on the trail. There is some bouldering involved and there is a pretty steep portion of trail where you may choose to use a rope that someone has setup to aid you in your climb.
There are a couple of small waterfalls along the first portion of the trail, but it is the last waterfall that you will really want to see. The last waterfall is a multi-tiered beauty with a total height of roughly 150 feet. It isn’t your typical California waterfall. This one is covered in moss and grass and is definitely this most tropical looking waterfall that we have experienced (YouTube Link).